What is apple pie spice, exactly?

Pumpkin spice may get all the attention as the calendar flips to fall, but its lesser known cousin, apple pie spice, is worthy of sharing the spotlight. So, what exactly is apple pie spice, and how do you use it?

A spice that’s everything nice 

Pie spices, like apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice, are spice blends meant to streamline your baking while also delivering maximum flavor. Every brand has their own proprietary blend, so no two bottles of pie spice will be the same. But all will contain a variety of warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, meaning you can reach for just one jar to measure from and add to your dish, rather than having to hunt through your spice rack for a laundry list of individual spices. And if you have limited pantry space, a spice blend can help reduce the amount of separate spices you need to keep on hand.

King Arthur’s apple pie spice is a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice — hallmarks of classic apple pie flavor. Other blends may contain mace instead of nutmeg, which is botanically related and has a similar flavor, and sometimes also ground cardamom and/or ginger. (Pumpkin pie spice, on the other hand, usually contains a few additional spices, especially cloves, and isn’t always as cinnamon-forward as apple pie spice.)

Photography by Kristin Teig; food styling by Liz Neily

(Apple) spice it up

Cinnamon-heavy, floral-scented apple pie spice can be used in apple pie filling, of course, but also in your favorite fall recipes. Try it in any baking recipe where apples are the star, such as cakes, muffins, scones, or apple crisp, or anywhere a hint of warm spice is welcome, like sprinkled on top of oatmeal or mixed with sugar as a coating for doughnuts. Apple pie spice is also a lovely companion to apple cider, whether stirred directly into a steaming mug, added to apple cider caramels, or incorporated into a cider cake.

How to make your own apple pie spice

If you don’t have a jar of apple pie spice on hand, you can make your own by mixing together 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon allspice (or ginger). And yes, you can swap in pumpkin pie spice for apple pie spice in a pinch; just know that the flavors won't be quite the same.

Cover photo (Fried Apple Pies) by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne.